Chapter 2 of The Book of James
This chapter could have easily been called “Excuses” or “The Blame Game.” But no matter who or what the devil throws in front of you, it is still you who must choose, and it is you who must answer for the choice you make.
She had gotten into a bad relationship with her new boyfriend. Things were so bad that her mother had taken her children away for their own protection. She got angry, left her boyfriend, and moved in with her grandmother. The anger and the bitterness came with an addiction to drugs. Her grandmother did all she could but finally had to throw her out of the house. She wound up living with a man on the streets. He died two weeks later.
With nowhere else to turn, the police brought her to our front door late one night. That’s when I first heard her story.
I listened to the pain in her voice as she went over every detail of her life, one heartache at a time. As the tears began to flow, I took the opportunity to try and minister grace to her. “What needs to happen here is a change of heart,” I said, about to explain further. She looked at me almost in amazement at my suggestion and said, “I don’t think my mother will ever change.”
I’ve heard it a hundred times since: “I try to do what is right but the devil won’t leave me alone”, “I could quit drinking if my spouse . . .”, I know I could quit drugs if my family would just . . .”, “I could deal with things if everyone would . . .”, and on it goes.
James leaves no doubt as to where temptation comes from. It is a godly lesson in responsibility that must be taught to a generation of “fault finding, sue happy, entitled” people.
This worksheet will be a little more in depth than the one at the end of the first chapter. Take your time. There are a lot of truths to be learned from this chapter.
Like all of the Word of God, one will find the book of James building upon itself with each truth supporting every other truth contained in its pages. The first chapter of James lays the foundation for the entire book. Chapters two, three, and four build upon that foundation. One will also notice the fifth and final chapter of James to be an actual review of the first four chapters.
Note: Before starting a new worksheet it would be extremely helpful to go over previously completed lessons. Don’t get ahead of yourself, even more importantly, don’t get ahead of God. If you will be patient and attentive to the Lord you will learn far more than the words written in this book. God loves to reveal Himself to His children.
James
Chapter 1
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Lesson Study No. 2
Before you begin this worksheet, read James 1:1-11 and then “ask God for wisdom”. (James 1:5)
“The Devil Made Me Do It”
- (James 1:12) We all go through trials and temptations. What is the only way to receive a blessing from them?
Look up the word “endure” in the dictionary and write out the definition.
Note: Hang onto this truth. It will help you in your victory over the devil and the lies Satan sends your way. “It is not a sin to be tempted.” (Hebrews 4:15-15) says, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. Jesus proved Himself to be the Holy One of God when He resisted temptation to sin. What does the Lord promise to them that love Him?
There is a direct relationship between loving God and enduring temptations.
Do your actions in the storm demonstrate the love of God to others?
- (James 1:13) Since the beginning of creation, man has been trying to blame someone else for his own sin.
Read (Genesis 3:8-12) Who did Adam ultimately blame for the mess he made? Hint: It was not Eve.
Have you ever blamed God for the mess you got yourself into?
Have you ever blamed someone else?
Is it ever right to blame God for our sin?
(James 1:14) Who do we have to blame for our sin?
- (James 1:15) What is brought forth in our lives when we entertain our own lust?
(James 1:15) What is the final result of keeping sin in our lives?
WARNING: “. . . and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death . . .”
(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death . . .”
(James 1:16) Do not err, my beloved brethren…”
Sin brings death.
- (James 1:17) We have learned what God does not do, which is to tempt us with evil. Along with evil comes darkness, and with the darkness comes sin. But God is the Father of lights. What does God give?
What is the greatest gift God ever gave? (John 3:16)
Have you ever accepted God’s Son Jesus Christ?
- (James 1:18) To help understand what it means to be fathered by the word of truth, read (1 Peter 1:23). What is the truth conveyed by these two verses?
(James 1:19) Now that we have been born by the Word of God, we should take time to listen to Him. You cannot listen and talk at the same time. You will only get frustrated and angry.
What should we be swift to do?
What should we be slow to do?
Note: Everyone has two ears and one mouth. Therefore, we should listen twice as much as we talk.
(James 1:20) What happens when we get angry?
- Write down some truths you have learned from this lesson and how you can apply these truths to your life. After all, these are “Words You Can Live By.”
- Memory Verses:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:14
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:15
Note: This lesson is not complete until you are able to quote the memory verses.
